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This page last edited June 24 2024.
Bill Godbout, of Compupro and Viasyn S-100 computers, passed away Nov 8th 2018, in the California wildfires. Here's some reflections I had at the time.
A little bit of history on the late model Compupro's was given to me by Henry Broekhuyse via the comp.os.cpm newsgroup. I quote it in the file referenced by this link.
Early in Godbout's business, they offered parts kits or boards for PAIA electronic music projects, notibly from the Craig Anderton book "Electronic Kits for Musicians". PAIA is still around in 2018; here's a link to audio kits at their site.
Compupro was previously known as "Godbout", after founder Bill Godbout. An author of one of the era's books on the S-100 bus suggested that "Bill Godbout's unflagging support of the S-100 Bus and his company's innovative products for it were in large part responsible for the success the S-100 bus achieved". I discuss the history of the S-100 bus at this linked Web page.
The photo is of my 2009-restored Compupro system with Heath H-19 terminal. The processor card in use is often the 85/88
dual processor with 8085 and 8088, similar to the dual-processor Heath/Zenith Z-100.
For a list of available Compupro docs look below.
Also see my Morrow documentation. George Morrow and Bill Godbout have a common history.
Documents from Digital Research Inc. (DRI) for Compupro are also on my DRI Web pages.
For a list of all S-100 docs click there.
I have some Compupro ROM and PAL images at this links page..
The Compupro DISK 1 floppy disk controller, uses the Intel FDC chip 8272 or the NEC FDC chip 765. Here's some DISK 1 test code, copied from the manual, courtesy of Rolf Harrmann. In Aug 2009 he told me: "Look on my Homepage Site [for more work]. I tested also my N8VEM DiskIO-Board with Dan's Software FDCMON.ASM. [this is the N8VEM Web site.] - Rolf"
Here is how to order S-100 stuff and email @ me.
Some Compupro manuals have internal document numbers, some have dates
and card version numbers. "half size" means the manual is about 8" by 5";
it will be copied two
pages at a time, single sided, and so per page costs will be HALF.
Promotional, info or catalogs:
Compupro 1973-83 product catalog, 60 pgs, illustrated
Compupro Product Data, 1983, 64 pages
products as late as 68K, 286, Disk 3, Disk 1, RAM 21
23 cards, several systems, software. one page per item
Compupro Product Data, 1982, 56 pages
products as late as 86/87, Disk 2, RAM 21
21 cards, several systems, software. one page per item
"IEEE 696 / S-100 Modular Microprocessor Bus", description
of bus, 9 pages (from Product User Manuals)
Hardware-specific manuals:
CPU 8085/88, Nov 1981, 161F, 20 pgs
CPU 8085/88, Feb 1983, 161F, 20 pgs
CPU-Z, Feb 1983, 160K, 20 pgs
CPU-Z, July 1985, 257E, 40 pgs
CPU-68K, Dec 1982, 184C, 24 pgs
CPU-68K, Nov 1983, 184D, 24 pgs
SP186 Tech Manual, March 1986, 366A, 72 pgs, (half size)
4K X 8 RAM Kit (Godbout), 6 pgs - lost?
4K X 8 RAM (godbout) Econoram Kit, 4 pgs
(Godbout) EPROM 5204, 1979, 2 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram II Data Sheet, 1977, 4 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram IIa, 139, 1979, 10 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram III, 199, 1979, 7 pgs (may be lost to me)
(Godbout) Econoram IV, 113, Mar 1979, 8 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram VII, 122D, July 1978, 6 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram VIIa, 122, July 1978, 8 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram IX, 127, Feb 1979, 8 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram X, 129, Jan 1979, 8 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram Xa, 129, 6 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram XI, 130, Jan 1979, 8 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram XII, 140, Jan 1979, 10 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram XIII, 141, Jan 1979, 6 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram XIII, 141, Jan 1979, 6 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram XIIIa, 147, Feb 1980, 10 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram XIV, 143, Feb 1980, 8 pgs
(Godbout) Econoram XX, 164, Aug 1980, 8 pgs
(Godbout) EconoRom 2708, 125, Jan 1979, 8 pgs
Ram 16, April 1982, 180A, 12 pgs
Ram 17, 175C, 15 pgs
Ram 20, July 1981, 164A, 16 pgs
Ram 21, 190B, 12 pgs
11989 Ram 22, May 1984, 198A, 10 pgs
Ram 23, Aug 1984, 235, 14 pgs
Ram 24 - copy, ask
MDrive/H (512K), March 1983, 197B, 24 pgs
MDrive Install. Manual, 5 pgs
8251-0011 Compupro 286 USer Guide, Oct 1985, 44 pgs
8251-0011 Compupro 286 Installation Guide, Oct 1985, 16 pgs
Bits Bytes and Buzzwords, 1983, 26 pgs
Compupro Price List, Sept 1987, 26 pgs
PC Video INstallation Manual, 229D & G, Sept 1985, 30 pgs (half size)
PC Video Tech Manual, 229G, Sept 1985, 132 pgs (half size)
PC Video Tech Manual, A493 229D, Mar 1985, 120 pgs
(Godbout) Spectrum, 144, Apr 1980, 16 pgs
11530 System Enclosure & Motherboards, 8 pgs
System Enclosure, 1981, 4 pgs
System 816 A standard switch settings & cables, 4 pgs
System 816 model 68K standard switch settings & cables, 10 pgs
Motherboard Users Manual, 6/12/20 slot w/reset, Aug 1980, 4 pgs
Motherboard Instructions, 10/11 & 18 slot, 4 pgs
(Godbout) Memory Manager, 151, Aug 1979, 6 pgs
(Godbout) Active Terminator, 106, 1980, 2 pgs
System Support 1, 162G, Nov 1981, 9511 info, 100 pgs (half size)
System Support 1, 162G, Nov 1981, 9511 info, 100 pgs
-- uses floating point chips described on this Web page
Interfacer, 133G, Nov 1980, 16 pgs
Interfacer 1, 133H, June 1981, 16 pgs
Interfacer 2 - copy, ask
Interfacer 3, 184C Dec 1985, 40 pgs
Interfacer 3, 174C Jan 1982, 40 pgs
Interfacer 4, 187A June 1982, 60 pgs
Interfacer 4, 187C, prob. 60 pgs
Net 100/101 Tech Manual, Nov 1984, 60 pgs
MPX1 Tech Manual (Interrupt processor), Nov 1984, 60 pgs
Disk 1, 171F, 130 pgs (half size)
Disk 1, 171F, w/BIOS 2.2H and ROM BOOT 2.2F source, 125 pgs
controller test code available at this link
12036 Disk 1A, July 1984, 203D, rom boot F 68/85/86, 30 pgs
Disk 2 & Selector Channel, 172B, April 1982, 36 pgs
Disk 3, 194G, May 1985, 30 pgs (half size)
Disk 3, 194G, May 1985, 30 pgs
Other docs:
IEEE 696/S100 description by George Morrow: 6 pages (from Product User
manual compilation)
Software docs (some from Digital Research Inc.) include:
17110 System 8/16 Single User Guide 2nd ed. Aug 1983, 80 pgs
TMXBIOS - 8086 listings for BIOS for CP/M 86 v1.1 and 8/16
- also loader, .EQU files. 1983, 1984. about 60 pages.
15299 CP/M 2.2 Tech manual & Installlation, Dec. 1984 40 pgs
15017 CP/M 2.2 Installation Procedures, 1982, 5 pgs
15040 MP/M 8/16 Tech. Manual & Install, June 1983, 28 pgs
MP/M 8/16 Tech. Manual & Install, Sept 1982, 30 pgs
MP/M 8/16 Multiuser operating system, June 1983, 27 pgs
PD-40M Installation Procedure, May 1982, 7 pgs
15084 CP/M 8-16 supplmt. for CP/M 86, NOv. 83, 4 pgs
15039 CP/M 86 Tech. Manual & Installation (incl Disk 3), March 1984, 40 pgs
CP/M 86 Tech. Manual & Instal., Jan 1983, 34 pgs
CP/M 86 Tech. Manual & Instal., July 1982, 34 pgs
CP/M 86 Release Notes Rel 1.1, Feb 1982, 36 pgs (half sized)
8222-0035 Concurrent Dos 8-16 Install and Customization Guide, Nov 85, 90 pgs
8222-0007C1 Supplement to (8222-0035) , 40 pgs
8222-0051C Concurrent Dos 8-16 Inst. & Custom. Guide V5, Apr 87, 142 pgs (half)
-- may be "lost"
8221-0022 Customization Guide for Concurrent Dos 8-16, July 85, 20 pgs
Concurrent DOS 8-16 Installation Guide, Ver 3.1x, 1985, 70 pgs (half)
MS-Dos 2.11 install/Users (LIfeboat Assoc. SB-86), 31 pgs
MP/M 8-16 Ref Manual (Gifford Comp. Sys.), Dec 1982, 75 pgs
MP/M 8-16 User Guide (Gifford) Dec 1982, 27 pgs
FORTH tech manual, 1982, 46 pgs
DRI PL/I-80 applications Guide, 1980, 180 pgs
DRI PL/I-80 language manual, 1980, 110 pgs
**C-PRO user's group**
C-PRO, National User's Group for Compupro Computer Owners.
Newsletters from 1984 through 1986. Letters from members, BBS emails,
Compupro updates, articles, ads, more! A lot of bits of info, history.
A lot of the content is messages from the C-PRO BBS about Compupro;
and some tech notes, bulletins and announcements from Compupro.
If you have additional issues I'd like a copy, I do not know if these
are a complete set. BBS apparently run by Don Kelley, newsletter
edited by Curt Hess. Note: half sized pages copied as one 8.5 X 14
page and counted as one page for our copy service.
Volume 1 Edition 1, Jan 1984, 3 half-sized pages
Vol 1 Edn 2 & 3, Feb/Mar 84, 80 half-sized pages
Vol 1 Edn 4, May/June 84, 66 half-sized pages
Vol 1 Edn 5, Aug 84, 64 half-sized pgs
Vol 1 Edn 6, Sept 84, 72 half-sized pgs
Vol 1 Edn 7, Oct 84, 29 full sized pages
Vol 1 Edn 8, Nov/Dec 84, 56 full sized pgs
Vol 2 Edn 1, Jan/Feb 85, 61 pgs
Vol 2 Edn 2, Mar/Apr 85, 63 pgs
Vol 2 Edn 3, May/Jun/Jul 85, 53 pgs
Vol 2 Edn 4, 1985, 69 pgs
Vol 2 Edn 5 & Vol 3 Edn 1, Winter Edition, 85-86, 88 pgs
Vol 1 #2&3 has: Compupro 1982-84 history note; Compupro model 10
announcement; Compupro op sys current version numbers.
Vol 1 #4 has: Compupro system brief descriptions; Compupro product
release dates; Computer HOuse's MS-DOS package PC-PRO; BBS
discussion of "panic trap" problems; Gifford's "Virtual Terminal"
product; C program to read SS1 clock
Vol 1 #5 has: fix to keep drive heads loaded on Disk 1
Vol 1 #6 has: Compupro software version numbers; Disk 3 firmware problems;
several page intro to RS-232; review of System 816/F and /G (80286
system), Concurrent DOS 8-16, tech bulletins from Compupro
Contact information:
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